Dan Severn offers to face Royce Gracie at UFC Rio

Dan Severn

The black belt Royce gracie He has already announced on several occasions his desire to end his professional fighting career at the UFC edition in Brazil, on August 27th, in Rio de Janeiro. Now, with the possibility of the event's first champion returning, several opponents have already offered to face Royce.

Veteran Dan Severn, who like Gracie is a member of the Ultimate Hall of Fame, offered to face the Brazilian, reliving the final of the UFC 4 tournament, held in 1994. On that occasion, Royce submitted the North American with a fair triangle in almost 16 minutes of duel.

“Royce publicly announced his intention to participate in the UFC in Brazil, Dan Severn is officially launching the challenge against him”, said the fighter, who has an impressive record of 99 wins, 16 losses and seven draws.

Another athlete who revealed his desire to face Gracie is Art Jimmerson, a boxer who faced Royce in the first edition of the UFC. The 44-year-old North American, who hasn't fought professionally since the first edition of Ultimate in 1993, says he will be more aggressive in a possible rematch.

“This time I will be more aggressive. Royce will not dictate the rules of the fight. I won’t allow him to take (the fight) to the ground,” the boxer told British website Full Mount MMA.

UFC 134, which is also called UFC Rio, will be held on August 28th, at the HSBC Arena, in the capital of Rio. Check out the fights already scheduled for the event below:

Anderson Silva x Yushin Okami (middleweight title fight)

Maurício Shogun x Forrest griffin

Thiago tavares x Spencer Fisher

Luiz “Banha” Cané x Stanislav Nedkov